My first block of the month block and Blue Willow quilt completed

I am excited to say that I have finished my first block of my Postcards from Paris quilt. I had started a different block but seemed to be having so much trouble with matching the fabric pieces to the pattern. after much frustration I realised that the templates proved for the flowers did not match the flowers on the block pattern. I have set that block aside for the time being and started on the next block which is of a postcard. I am so pleased with how it has turned out. I have traced the applique layouts onto the blocks I have received and cut the fabrics ready to sew. I have now started on my next block which is of three long stemmed roses in vases.



Jacinta's Blue Willow quilt is ready to be hand quilted.

I laid out and basted the quilt at Brink last week making use of the trestle tables in the church.

It was great having the space to move around the tables without hitting the walls as I do at home. I also enjoyed having the help of Mary, one the of the ladies at Brink who I've come to know this year.

I am currently working on Lachlan's quilt and my Postcards from Paris block of the month both of which I am thoroughly enjoying sewing.

Hopefully I'll be able to sew some more over the next two weeks while I recuperate from my second carpal tunnel release operation. The surgery tomorrow is on my left hand so I'll just need to work out how to hold the material in my left hand while I sew with my right. With 10 days off work it would be so nice to be able to spend the time sewing.

My Blue Willow quilt is growing

Here's a photo of my Blue Willow quilt. I only have one and a bit boarders to sew on and then the binding to sew. I have the backing material and batting all ready to put on the quilt.

I am not sure what pattern I will use to hand quilt the top. I may just stitch around each block but will have to make sure the quilting is close enough together to hold the batting in place once it's finished.

I wasn't sure how to place the block for this quilt. After much deliberation I decided to have them all facing the same direction and set about sewing the blocks in place.

As I was sewing the last two picture blocks in place I had started to think that I should have sewed half the blocks in the opposite.

I was just about to sew the last block in place and I decided that I would unpick half of the blocks and turn them in the opposite direction.

It took me all evening to unpick the blocks I wanted to turn. I unpicked 5 blocks in total, turned them around and sewed them in place again.

It was fiddly work unpicking the stitches and sewing blocks where I had taken them out in the middle of a row but it was worth the effort.

Charlie must have a sixth sense for quilts. Every time I lay a quilt out to photograph it Charlie jumps up on the bed and sits right on top of it!

My pile of quilts to hand quilt is growing. I will have plenty of sewing to do when I have the bone grafts done on my foot in a few months time.

A Blue Willow quilt for Jacinta

I have started on another quilt which I am calling my 'Blue Willow' quilt. This quilt will eventually be for my niece Jacinta.

Over the past year and a half I have been collecting blue and white material and now have enough to make it into a quilt.

I found two patterns that I liked of which one was called 'Blue Willow' and the other 'Memories of Provence. Deciding on which pattern to use was hard. I liked the idea of making the Blue Willow quilt as it matched my material selection but with the pattern pieces being small you wouldn't see the bigger patterns on the material.

I've decided to use the 'Memories of Provence' quilt pattern. It is a simpler quilt but with it's large blocks (9 inch 23cm square) it will show the designs on the fabric. I have some navy blue and white material for the triangles.

I've cut out the fabric, cardboard templates and have started to tack the fabric onto the cards.

With the large blocks I think this quilt will be very quick to sew.

I love making all my quilts but the fabric in this quilt is probably my favourite.